The increasing political turmoil in Thailand has cost the country dear, during the past six months, the government said in a statement briefing the international community on the latest political situation.

The Thai Consulate-General in Xiamen, Fujian province, forwarded the statement to China Daily on Friday, hoping to help more people understand the current circumstances better.

Different groups with varied beliefs have been confronting one another. Nearly 30 people have died, and more than 700 injured during a number of protests, according to the statement.

The prolonged political deadlock and an almost paralyzed administration have also taken its toll on Thailand’s tourism and GDP.

Given the situation, the Thai military “was compelled” to take control of the national administration in order to provide a cooling-off period for all sides, and to prevent further deterioration of the situation, said the statement.

The priority of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the military junta ruling Thailand right now, is to ensure that the national administration function runs as normal and key policies can be implemented with the support of civil servants.

NCPO has pledged to protect all diplomatic missions, consulates, and international organizations, as well as all tourists and foreign nationals residing in Thailand.

The Council has also reaffirmed that all diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Thailand and foreign nations remain unchanged.